While I can't presume to predict what directions the Jewish community will take in the future, it does strike me that life as a member of a minority religious group is far different -- far easier -- now than it was even twenty years ago.

When I was a child, world history started in Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq), but quickly moved from there to Europe, with a brief nod at the Pharaohs and Cleopatra (only because she interacted with Europe) and a quick mention of Constantinople as this annoying military power that threatened European hegemony. The Crusades were again nameless, faceless Infidels. China, India and the rest of Asia, Africa, South America, even Eastern Europe received no attention at all.

In contrast, my children's World History classes have included units on China and the Middle East. Their Social Studies classes have had unit on Africa, and research papers where they were required to pick a country NOT in Europe and then make a presentation to their class.

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The Qur'an describes Satan's fatal flaw as that of pride. "I am better than him!" Satan cries when God would have him bow down before Adam. Satan's pride, and his hurt ego, lead him to defy God, and to a host of other sins, including a couple of the deadly ones...envy and anger. Today too, it seems there is a plethora of ills arising from the same sin.

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The Prophet Muhammad taught us that we should chose our leaders from among the best of us. Leaders are expected to display the characteristics of a good Muslim, including humility and self-control, commitment to consultative government, and dedication to compassion, care for the less well off, and a peaceful society in which all can prosper.

I can well imagine that many of you reading this column are shaking your heads and wondering where one might find such a leader in the Muslim world. Certainly the rulers of many Muslim countries fail miserably when compared to the standards Islam holds up for leadership. As do many of the self-proclaimed leaders of Islam, like Osama Bin Laden or Ahmed Yassin.

This failure in leadership, aside from the fact that it has resulted in horrific violence and atrocious living conditions for millions and millions of Muslims around the globe, is also responsible for much of the rising tide of Islamophobia that plagues certain groups in the West.

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